By JMan, on 11-06-2008 16:28

Views : 35

Published in : Reviews, Hardware

"Can you turn it down a bit?, "Does it have to be that loud?" YES, IT DOES !! What use is a nice distortion or a excellent crunch when you have to turn it so low that it's hardly audable. In fact ...... with a decent tube amp, you CAN'T turn it down because it really only starts to 'sissle' when you hit that right volume.

Ok, so what am I moaning about anyway? I don't even HAVE an amp. That's the downside of living in a city apartment with a wife in the next room and maybe a daughter that has to do homework. But seeing that I don't do gigs anyway and solely concentrate on recording, I do much work (except when the mixing starts) with headphones. And every chance I get when I'm doing a 'Kevin' (Home alone .... get it?), I crank up my speakers and let rip !!. Nice! But WAY too seldom. On the couch I normally have one of my Guitars on my lap and tinker around, but 'unplugged' of course.

Enter Amplug! A long time ago I had a set of headphones that had a Amp build inside. The sound was horrible, but I've always liked the idea.

So, when I saw the ads for the Vox Amplug (at a NAMM report I think) I thought ... "Hey, now THAT would be nice!" At first obviously a bit sceptical about the sound ....... I kept an eye open for reviews etc. They come in 3 models. A "AC30" that is modelled after the Vox AC30, a "Classic Rock" giving you more of a Marshall sound and a "Metal" version that excells at High Gain. When I saw that nearly ALL revierws were VERY good I set about listening to some Demo audio clips, trying to descide which one would be most suitable for me. Actually I'm a Classic Rock - kind of Guitarist ....... but what sold me was the Treble Boosted Queen sound (they call it "Her Majesty" ... Hah!) I really like that Brian May / We will Rock You - solo sound and to ME ...... that is damn close. SO I descided to spend the €44.- and order one from Thomann.

As great as Thomann is ...... I had it in my hands only 2 days later. After first inspections and putting in the two AAA batteries (included) I noticed the 3 control wheels for Gain, Tone and Volume. Although not weighing ANYTHING it does feel quite sturdy and it plugs solidly into the Guitar. Strats are no problem either. A On/Off switch with a little LED and a small headphonejack. That's it! Ok ..... and it DOES look a LITTLE like a Vox AC30 ;-)

Eventhough I was very keen on getting to that crunch sound, I forced myself to start 'clean'. So down goes the Gain to '3, Tone midway up and Volume halfway as well. NICE !!! I had it plugged into my Joe Perry Les Paul and it really had a beatifull clean sound. Neck pickup,both (out-of-phase) and bridge. All different but very sweet soudning.Ok ..... so I couldn't resist any longer and started turning the Gain up. At the same time I had to turn the Volume down because it got REALLY loud now. And then I started getting into THAT Treble boosted AC30 sound that I love so much!!! Not overyly distorted ...... thats what the other models are there for ..... but a real well-defined crunch!! And what's better ...... nobody except me heard a thing!!!

All in all ...... for THIS price one can't start being picky about how close the sound is to a realy Amp. Who cares? This is a VERY VERY handy cool little 'toy' that will enable you to rock out on that couch, with the sound you love without having to worry about the pictures on the wall. Great for outdoors, holidays etc too !!! I can only recommend it! Who knows? I MIGHT even get the Classic Rock - one too ;-)

Have a look and see (and hear) for yourself !!

http://www.voxamps.co.uk/amplug/

J 

By JMan, on 08-06-2008 10:36

Views : 44

Published in : News, Blog

Wow! It's been a while since I last wrote, but sometimes the real world takes over ;-) I've been busy though, bought a couple of things (of which I'll tell you later) ...... and Summer has basically stepped in here in Germany, so much time is spend outside, eating Ice-cream etc.

A day or two ago, I read this excellent article at MusicRadar.com about "The Death of the Album". Ok ...... so ALL of us know that THIS discussion about the Music Industry, MP3 downloads, bands on MySpace etc has been going on FOREVER ...... funnily some big Labels STILL don't 'get it'. There's lots been said and many many many different point of views and opinions. Which is good ....... but one thing we ALL agree on is ........ things are changing and will never be the same again. Right? Well ...... maybe not !

I've never been a guy that liked to say "This is gonna happen" or "It'll be like THIS is 5-10 years time". I feel that history has shown us that one never knows exactly what'll happen. So yesterday, I was just sitting around thinking about this MusicRadar article when I came up with the question ....... "Is this REALLY so new?"

I've always been interessted in Rock History and have many books and DVD's about it. And the 70's were a fascinating time. Many artists tell about how the 70's changed the industry. Suddenly ANYBODY could make an Album. Albums were 'complete works of art'. Concept Albums. Live Albums. Best Of's etc etc. Towards the end of the 70's and since then ......... unfortunately big companies and Music Labels realized that there was BIG BUCKS in this. And as usual ........... it later turned that way that only 'guaranteed MILLION selling albums' were interessting to those big companies. They basically run the show ......... so IF you're a big selling artist and got a 3-Record deal with them ....... you'd better PRAY that they sell too!! If you're a small artist ........ you've got basically no chance in hell to get your music 'out there'.

Then came the return of the 'Indie Labels'. Independant Record Labels that realized that too many great musicians were being looked over. Due to the massive power of the Big Guns, however........ their success has been limited. But then came the Internet as we know it today. Together with that ...... sites like MySpace (just one of many) and suddenly every Tom, Dick or Harry could have his band up there and be accessable to MILLIONS. The clever artists free enough to do so ........ jumped on this too ....... basically just to give infos, build up a bigger fan-base and give some samples and teasers for their next Album. So bands could now get the WORD out there at least. But did it sell anything yet? No!

After a long period of Illegal download sites ....... slowly one can see the start of easy and affordable legal music downloads. iTunes, MusicLoad etc. And THAT is where the "Death of the Album"comes in for me. If people can download the songs they like. Do you really think they'll download the WHOLE Album if there's only 2-3 hits on it? I don't think so. Let's get back to the 70's. When I thought of how the 70's things changed because all of a sudden 'Albums were dome by everybody' ......... I suddenly thought "But wait a minute. How were things in the 60's and 50's ?"

Way back then, when things were still not so corporate etc. When Radio DJ's could play what they wanted (hell... THAT was a long time ago), when all we HAD was a FM Radio and maybe a music magazine. Think Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent. The early crooners ..... Fabian, Paul Anka, Roy Orbison, Ricky Nelson, Pat Boone ...... and even the first Beatle songs. All on singles. Those little round vinyl disks that were played on little 'suitcase-looking' record players at 45 rpm's. People went to the store, spend their pennies on that little single and ..... THAT WAS IT TILL THE NEXT ONE CAME OUT! Artists were concentrating on THAT hit song. One that would get the people out there to go and buy THAT SONG. Albums? Maybe after 1-2 years. A sort of 'Collection' of the singles you already had. Nothing more. ALL the popular songs were all over the Wurlitzer Jukeboxes in the Diners, Ice cream joints etc. "Jukeboxes?" "Internet Playlists?" Get it ?

Doesn't it sound very much like it COULD be like tomorrow? Artists concentrating on a hit SONG. Put out there for all to 'listen in to'. Nobody controlling WHAT gets out there ...... whatever is popular, will be talked about! Then ...... if you like it ...... you sign in, and buy and download the song with one-click. Legally. It'll be so easy and cheap that it's not worth the hassle to 'steal it'. Ok, THAT point we haven't reached yet, there's still things that have to be sorted out to avoid illegal downloads, SAFE and easy payments etc, but I think we're on the way there.

But is this scenario so 'new' ? Doesn't it sound SOMEWHAT familiar? Could the "45" Single of old" be the answer to the "MP3" of tomorrow. Just in a 'modern way' ? Who knows ............

Maybe it is meant to be like this. So many thing come full-circle. Wouldn't surprize me if happens again !

J

By JMan, on 29-04-2008 08:30

Views : 145    

Published in : News, Latest

Love em or hate em, one just has to admit that the nealy released single from Mötley Crüe, called "Saints Of Los Angeles" just kicks ass!!! Wow .... 100% Crüe!

I'm a big Mötley fan and glad to see that they still have it in them to come up with such a typical 'Crüe Anthem'. Mostly I gotta take my hat off to Guitarist Mick Mars! The poor man has suffered his whole life from a crippling Bone disease, had a complete hip replacement in 2004 and was/is under constant pain. So if you think that 'The scary man with the hat' looks and moved a bit 'weird' ..... just keep in mind that this man can hardly walk !! And yet ...... he's as great as ever. Considdering that he's the sole Guitarist in the Group (Nikki plays Bass) ....... you begin to realize just how much 'Mick' there is in every Mötley song!

So Sir ..... the world might not give you much credit ..... but I (and all Crüe fans) thanx you !

The rest of the gang isn't too bad either. Nikki .... well, he's great and still looks the same, Vince does show a little 'age' in his face ..... but his voice ...... as great as always! Again showing that he's one of Rocks greatest vocalists!!!

And Tommy ....... was having fun!! And when Tommy is having fun ..... then Mötley Crüe ALWAYS sounds at it's best !!!

There's even a killer video from the new song. There are many links on the Net (YouTube, Spinner, etc) .... but if you still can't find one, here's a good link ...

Check out the video of "Saints Of Los Angeles" HERE

The new Album, also called "Saints Of Los Angeles" is said to be out in June! I'll be first in the shop to get it !!!!

By JMan, on 23-04-2008 08:10

Views : 126    

Published in : News, Blog